Ab Ghani Hassan wins FAM presidency with landslide majority

The Football Association of Malaysia logo is seen at the association’s headquarters in Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya on November 20, 2025. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

First Published: Thursday, 17 Sep 2026 2:49 PM MYT

PETALING JAYA, Sept 17 — Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan was elected as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president for the remainder of the 2025-2029 term after securing a majority of the votes at the FAM Executive Committee Election today.

At the election, held in conjunction with the Second FAM Extraordinary Congress 2026 here, Ab Ghani obtained 20 votes to defeat Football Association of Selangor (FAS) deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, who secured five votes, in a straight fight for the president’s post.

For the vice-president 1 position, Datuk Seri Rosmadi Ismail was elected with 15 votes, defeating Mohd Firdaus Mohamed and Syed Yazid Syed Omar, who each received five votes.

Datuk N. Saaran was elected vice-president 3 after securing 18 votes, while his challenger Afizal Abu Othman received seven votes.

In the election for Executive Committee members representing state football associations, Mohd Azizudin Mohd Shariff and Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin each received 19 votes, followed by Datuk Alijus @ Mohd Ali Sipil with 15 votes.

Also contesting for the three positions were Datuk Mohd Hisamudin Yahaya, Tang Chee Hong, Datuk Ramlan Shahean @ Askolani and Mohd Faizul Mohd Noor.

For the two Executive Committee positions representing clubs, Datuk Kamarudin Hassan and Datuk Syed Mahadi Syed Hassan were elected after they secured 15 votes each.

They defeated Datuk Dr P. Sugumaran (nine votes), Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon (six) and Muhammad Faliq Firdaus Muhammad Rom (five).

Meanwhile, national football legend Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan was elected as an Executive Committee member in the professional category after securing 22 votes to defeat Azlan Johar (three votes).

In the women’s Executive Committee category, Datuk Suraya Yaacob was elected with 15 votes, while Dr Siti Faidul Maisarah Abdullah secured 10 votes.

For the record, the vice-president 2 post was not contested and will be held by the MFL president in accordance with Article 33 (2) of the FAM Statutes.

Today’s election was held to reconstitute the FAM Executive Committee for the 2025-2029 term after the entire previous committee resigned collectively in January.

The decision to step down came after FAM faced an issue involving documents concerning seven Harimau Malaya players, which led Fifa to take action against the national governing body and the players involved.

The following is the full result of the FAM Executive Committee Election for the remainder of the 2025-2029 term held in conjunction with the Second FAM Extraordinary Congress today:

President:

Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan – 20 votes

Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar – 5 votes

Vice-President 1:

Datuk Seri Rosmadi Ismail – 15 votes

Mohd Firdaus Bin Mohamed – 5 votes

Syed Yazid Bin Syed Omar – 5 votes

Vice-President 3:

Datuk N.Saaran – 18 votes

Afizal Bin Abu Othman – 7 votes

Executive Committee members (FA – State Football Associations):